Rodney Taylor, a Georgia resident and double amputee, was released Saturday from Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin County after a coordinated campaign by advocates, family members and federal lawmakers challenged his continued detention on immigration grounds. Taylor, who arrived in the United States at age 2 on a medical visa, had been held in custody for approximately one year facing possible deportation, with his family documenting what they characterized as medical neglect throughout his confinement.
Taylor's detention stemmed from a burglary conviction dating to his teenage years. Although he was later pardoned by Georgia, federal immigration law does not recognize state pardons in determining deportation eligibility. His legal visa eventually lapsed over time, creating the immigration violation that led to his detention.
His wife, Mildred Taylor, reported that during his time in custody, her husband was denied adequate access to food and basic hygiene services. She documented that he developed bone spurs and neuropathy resulting from ill-fitting prosthetics that were not provided while he was detained. These conditions, she stated, caused additional deterioration to his health and increased his medical vulnerability.
The push for Taylor's release involved a broad coalition of community organizers, legal experts and federal lawmakers. U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock, U.S. Representatives Lucy McBath and Pramila Jayapal, along with Georgia state legislators and a broader group of 21 members of Congress and six Georgia state lawmakers, publicly pressured immigration officials to release him on humanitarian grounds.
Representative McBath characterized Taylor's case as emblematic of larger systemic concerns. She stated that Congress must ensure detained individuals are treated with dignity and respect, and that the legislative branch requires adequate oversight of detention conditions nationwide. McBath indicated concern that Taylor's situation may not be isolated.
Sarah Owings, Taylor's attorney, noted that legal proceedings remain ongoing on multiple fronts. Beyond his release from physical custody, she is pursuing a habeas petition seeking federal court review of his entire case. Owings indicated that appellate phases could extend the legal process significantly, with outcomes from the immigration appeals board pending.
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman rejected claims that detainees, including Taylor, experienced substandard conditions during custody.
